Kokomo railroad to reopen after $5.5 million rehabilitation project

Twelve miles of inactive railroad running through the city of Kokomo to Tipton, Ind., will soon be reopened to rail freight traffic by early 2014.

Kokomo Grain, US Rail (USR) and Norfolk Southern railroads are partnering on a railroad rehabilitation project that will see $5.5 million invested to restore a railway, which has been inactive since 1997. Rails, ties and crossings will be replaced in order to rehabilitate the dormant NS line.

"Kokomo and central Indiana companies will benefit from this world-class transportation system," said Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight. "As an economic development tool, access to a rail system is again becoming more important to agricultural, construction and manufacturing industries."

For Kokomo Grain, the reopened railroad will reduce the company's transportation costs and provide them with quicker and more efficient access to southern grain markets.

"This project is a great example of public/private coordination of efforts to attract investments to our community," said Scot Ortman, president/CEO, Kokomo Grain. "I would like to commend the city of Kokomo for their forward looking stance in embracing this opportunity and working with us to make it happen."